Amos

Amos, a shepherd from Tekoa, delivers God's roaring judgment from Zion. In a devastating pattern — for three sins and for four — he pronounces judgment on Damascus, Gaza, Tyre, and Edom for their war crimes and cruelty.

The judgment pattern continues to Moab, then shockingly turns on Judah and Israel. Israel is condemned for selling the righteous for silver, trampling the poor, and profaning God's name. They have perverted every institution God gave them.

Can two walk together unless they agree? God does nothing without revealing His plan to the prophets. Israel was chosen above all families — but with privilege comes greater accountability. Destruction is coming to the altars of Bethel and the mansions of the wealthy.

Amos calls the wealthy women of Samaria cows of Bashan who oppress the poor. God sent famine, drought, plague, and destruction — yet you did not return to me, repeats five times. If repeated discipline doesn't work, prepare to meet your God.

A funeral dirge for living Israel: she has fallen, never to rise again. Seek me and live — not Bethel, Gilgal, or Beersheba. Let justice roll down like waters and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream. God hates their religious festivals because they are divorced from justice.

Woe to those at ease in Zion — lounging on ivory beds, feasting on lamb, singing idle songs, drinking wine by the bowlful, but not grieving over Israel's ruin. Their complacency in the face of injustice brings them first into exile.

Three visions of judgment — locusts, fire, and a plumb line. God relents from the first two but not the third: Israel is crooked by the plumb line of justice. The priest Amaziah expels Amos, who responds: I was no prophet — just a shepherd and fig farmer. But God called me.

A basket of ripe fruit — the end is ripe for Israel. The merchants can't wait for the sabbath to end so they can cheat the poor with dishonest scales. The sun will go down at noon, and God will send a famine — not of bread or water, but of hearing the words of the Lord.

Final judgment: no one can escape God — not in Sheol, the sea floor, or Carmel's peak. Yet the book ends with stunning hope: God will raise up David's fallen booth, restore Israel, and they will plant vineyards and gardens, never again to be uprooted. Grace has the last word.